With Winter Storm Fern approaching the US, T-Mobile has activated SpaceX’s Starlink cellular service for free in affected areas, giving customers a way to stay connected via satellite.
T-Satellite normally costs $10 per month as an add-on for most users. But on Friday, T-Mobile said access has been made available “for all customers in potentially impacted areas with compatible phones,” which include the latest iPhones, Samsung Galaxy, and Google Pixel handsets.
“The service supports basic text messaging if traditional connectivity is disrupted, helping people stay in touch with loved ones,” the carrier said. “T-Satellite also broadcasts Wireless Emergency Alerts to compatible devices, regardless of wireless provider.”
The Weather Channel reports Fern “will spread destructive ice and heavy snow over 34 states through Monday in the South, Midwest, and Northeast.”
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T-Satellite also supports data for select apps, including Google Maps, and video calls on WhatsApp. But T-Mobile’s announcement suggests the company is limiting the service to texting, perhaps to avoid straining the network. The technology works by using over 650 orbiting Starlink satellites to receive cellular connectivity, letting the user stay connected when a traditional cell tower is out of view.
T-Mobile later told us: “Customers who already signed up (for T-Satellite) will keep using the service as normal, and for other T-Mobile customers in areas that could be impacted by the storm, we’ve turned on satellite text messaging at no cost so they can stay in touch with loved ones.”
Apple’s satellite ‘SOS’ mode activated in a dead zone. (Credit: PCMag/Michael Kan)
T-Mobile isn’t alone in offering satellite connectivity. The iPhone 14 and up and Google Pixel 9 and 10 also have free access to their own built-in satellite services, which can send text messages or contact emergency services. However, Apple is using satellite provider Globalstar while Google is tapping Skylo. The satellite services should pop up as options if the phones lose coverage through traditional cell towers.
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Rival carrier Verizon also offers emergency satellite connectivity on certain phones. The catch is that satellite services work best with a clear view of the sky. That could be a problem for users facing snow and frigid temperatures, but you can sometimes get a satellite signal inside a car or near a window.
To prepare for the storm, the major carriers have been deploying generators, backup batteries, and even mobile cell sites to keep their networks up and running in the event of an outage. AT&T noted it’s been “boosting network capacity for higher call volume.”
T-Mobile has also rolled out free texting to 911 via satellite for all users, even on rival carriers. But it requires interested consumers to sign up for access.
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About Our Expert
Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
Experience
I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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